I suggest we look only at the "Import" tab and limit ourselves to the media imported via "My computer". This simple function alone merits a tutorial because it is so useful and certainly under-utilized. I mention this under-utilization because several times I have seen users complain about not being able to perform certain operations while the software gives them every opportunity to do so.

Step 1 : Media Importing Methods

There are three official ways to import media into Studio:

Use the Import or Organize tabs.

In Windows Explorer, add a compatible content file in a watched Studio folder.

Click the Quick Import Studio icon.

In the [ARTICLELINK 1627] tutorial we had shown you a fourth undocumented method: ultra-fast import .....

The ultra-fast import method is simple:

Just do a simple drag & drop of the media from Windows Explorer...

To an empty space under any tab in the Studio library.

Fundamental differences between the methods:
When you make a simple drag & drop from Windows Explorer to an empty space into any tab of the Studio library, you are linking the media to the original.

Fundamental differences between the methods:

When you click the Quick Import icon in Studio, you are linking the media to the original.

Select the media file to link to in the Windows Explorer window.

The "Import" tab allows you to import all media in the library. It is also accessible using the CTRL+I keyboard shortcut.

The "Mode" panel allows you to set the import mode.

Fundamental differences between the methods:
The "Mode" panel of the Import tab places a copy of the media in the library or simply a link it to the original media;

Step 2 : The "Link" Function from the Studio Import Tab

The Import tab is accessible from the main Studio interface.

This tutorial focuses on importing from "My computer".

The tree view of your computer allows you to select a folder containing your media files.

The "Mode" panel allows you to define the import;

The "Metadata" panel allows you to customize the import.

A drop-down list lets you select the type of media files to be shown;

Option to "Check All" or "Uncheck All".

Number of selected files.

Step 3 : Detail View of the "Link" Function from the Studio Importer

The "Mode" panel :

Lets you select the "Copy" or "Link" mode. The "Link" option does not copy the original file. It only establishes a connection between the file on your hard drive and the Studio library. The linked file retains all its original attributes including EXIF data if the file has not been changed. The Studio library shows the location of the file on the hard drive and the Windows date of the last record of the file (which can be the same as that of the shooting if the file has not been modified).

The "Delete original" item is not active, of course.

The "Ignore duplicates" item is especially useful: If you select "No", all selected files will be automatically imported even if it's a duplicate. If the selected item is "Yes", only the missing files from the collections of the Studio Library will be pre-selected.

Only the first two files are pre-selected. The last two files are already present in the studio collections: they are not pre-selected.

The "Metadata" panel :

Allows you to give a name to the collection you are importing. In all cases, a default collection will be created with the title "Latest Import". If the "Collection" Metadata field is filled, a second collection will be created with the name of the text entered in the field.

Includes a text entry field that gives you the option to add tags to the collection. If the text field is blank, no tag will be assigned to your import. If the Metadata "Tag" field is filled, a tag will be created with the name of the text entered in the field.

The "Collection" and "Tag" text entries retain the last value that was assigned to them, even if the title was given to it automatically during a later session. There is no link to reset these two fields. To remove a text becomes bothersome, type some text, select and cut or use the Delete key. The context menu can cut, copy and paste in the usual manner and the usual keyboard shortcuts also work. For a more complete description of the "Collection" and "Tag" fields, I refer you to the tutorial Studio's library : discover all the secrets.

The asset filter dropdown function :

This drop-down list allows you to limit imports to certain categories of files: Images, Audio, Video, Projects. By default, all compliant content files are selected.

Quick choice "Check All" and "Uncheck All":

Includes a "Check All" button (Ctrl + A) and a "Uncheck All" button (Ctrl + Shift + A). Each file can be selected or deselect individually by checking or un-checking the check box at the top right of the thumbnail of the file (if this check box is active).

Selected Files indicator :

The number of files selected for import is indicated at the bottom right of the Studio Importer window.

Step 4 : The "Copy" Function from the Studio Importer

By choosing the "Copy" function, the window adds some panels and displays the following auxiliary panels:

The "Mode" panel seen in the previous step is used to select the "Copy" button.

The "Import to" panel. We will cover in more detail shortly.

Note the small orange mark that indicates the import folder we will use.

The "Metadata" panel we saw previously now adds the "Filename" option.

A drop-down list to limit imports to certain media file types to be imported.

Quick select/deselect (Check All and Uncheck All buttons).

Information on the number of selected files.

Step 5 : Detail View of the "Copy" Function from the Studio Importer

The "Import to" panel:

To import videos, audio, and photos, Studio defaults to the folders usually used by Windows.

To import projects Studio provides a default folder that is created during installation.

By clicking on the small folder icon, you can change the default destination;

A "Choose Folder" dialog window opens and you can select another folder from the tree view of your computer.

Studio also gives you the option to create a subfolder to locate your imports.

You can click the "More Settings" button for the specific media type;

You can also click on the "set subfolder" button.

Clicking either choice above will cause a dialog window to open.

From the dropdown list, several choices are made available to you ...

The "Filename" panel:

By default, the files are imported with their original name and extension. But you can change the file name from the "Filename" panel as shown in the screenshot below.

If you import a file multiple times with the same name, it will be renamed as follows: Filename_###.extension. (Example: The river_001.JPG, The river_002.JPG ...)

From the "More Settings" button, you can also:

Reset all of the panel settings;

Customize the Filename;

Append to the Filename using a number, the Windows creation time, or current system time.

The "selected files" panel :

The "Selected Files" panel counts the number of selected files and shows the Windows creation dates of the first and the last recorded file. But it is not these dates that Studio will display in the library .

The original photo was taken on 07/01/2013 at 10:32 and installed on the computer on 12/14/2014 at 09:45

The edited photo was registered on 12/14/2014 at 09:54

If you do not change the dates:

The original photo will be displayed in the library with its Windows creation date which will also be the shooting date on 07/01/2013 at 10:32.

The edited photo will be displayed with its new Windows creation date will also be the date and time of import.

If you want to modify the dates that will be displayed in the library, it will:

Use the "More Settings" button for "Selected Files".

Correct the date.

Either play only on the hour by changing the time zone or.

Manually set the date and time.

Step 6 : Bonus

If you have already imported a lot of media without worrying about dates and now you're sorry you did it, you can of course delete the imported media and re-do your imports using a little more care and methodology.

But you can also download from the internet, a small, free utility, Attribute Changer , that I recommend. You can install it quickly in your language and can use it as follows:

Open Windows Explorer to the file folder that you want to change the attributes and:

Select the files that have the attributes to be modified.

Right-click the selection.

Click on the "Edit Properties" item, which will open "Attribute Changer".

This utility offers you the ability to change a multitude of attributes.

The number of selected files on which attributes will be changed is shown.

You can change the case of the filename by choosing the desired item from the drop down list.

You can change the dates and times of several parameters, using the relative option if you choose.

And you can use the simulation mode to familiarize yourself with this utility. In this case the changes to be made are shown before the action is taken.

There is an "Advanced" button to make complex file selections to be processed using filters. Finally, a very comprehensive user guide in PDF format in the installation language, with examples of use, is accessible from the installation folder.

The Studio "Import" function is very complete and allows many combinations. But as usual, there are still some small imperfections. Lack of finishes and a certain lack of logic in the management of dates leave this user feeling the product is unfinished, which prevents me from calling it an unqualified success. I hope this tutorial will help you understand the logic of the function and alleviate some of the bitterness that you could possibly feel by only using intuitively this function.

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